U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner says he will fight to keep out Gitmo detainees

By Sarah Matott

The Daily Record

Posted:
03/28/2016 08:11:50 PM MDT

U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner spoke Monday in Florence about national security issues, focusing on the proposal of moving detainees from Guantanamo Bay to one of the federal prisons in Fremont County. (Sarah Matott/ Daily Record)

More than 100 people filled the City Hall chambers in Florence on Monday as the gathered to listen to U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner speak about the issue of moving prisoners from Guantanamo Bay to a federal prison in Fremont County. (Sarah Matott/ Daily Record)

FLORENCE — Keeping detainees in Guantanamo Bay and out of any prison in Fremont County and Colorado was the message U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner had for locals Monday at Florence City Hall.

"I will do everything I can do prevent in Guantanamo Bay detainees from being brought to Florence, to Fremont Colorado, to Colorado and to the Unites States of America," Gardner said, who received a round of applause.

Gardner hosted a town hall format as he addressed national security issues, particularly, those surrounding moving detainees at Guantanamo Bay to one of the prisons located in Fremont County.

More than 100 people filled the Florence City Hall chambers, including elected officials from Fremont County and El Paso County.

"We see this challenge around the globe," Gardner said in regards to the ever present threat of terrorism. "At the same time, we have a facility in our backyard that is becoming part of a serious conversation."

Gardner said that he has heard through the U.S. Department of Defense that seven of the 13 prisons being considered to potentially house Guantanamo Bay are located in Fremont County.

"We can't get them to confirm these numbers, but that's what we are hearing from sources close to the Pentagon," he said.

Gardner made it clear to audience members that the law prohibits the President from transferring these detainees to the United States.

He also said that it is unlawful to spend any money in the transferring of Guantanamo Bay detainees to the U.S.

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If Guantanamo closed, Gardner said that he and other Congress members would immediately seek an injunction of the federal courts to block this.

"This will be a constitutional fight," Gardner said if the President were to shut down Guantanamo.

Local concerns included staffing levels at the prisons in Fremont County and the effect having Guantanamo Bay prisoners housed in one of the local prisons can have on the local tourist economy.

"It's a major concern of mine that we've seen a major reduction in staffing at the local prisons," Gardner said, adding that housing prisoners here shouldn't be considered when there's not the necessary personnel to handle the prisoners already here.

Gardner also said that the local tourist economy is something important to consider when discussing transferring these detainees to Fremont County.

"Fremont County is one of the most amazing places in Colorado," he said. "You have prisons here already, and we've been able to deal with it, been able to create a recreational economy, but this is a different concern."

Gardner throughout receiving questions Monday did make it clear multiple times that he does not think Guantanamo Bay should be closing, saying that those housed there have earned their stay there.

"Guantanamo Bay is tailored built for terrorists, and I think they should stay just right there," he said.

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